I can hardly contain myself! After nearly 9 grueling months, my surgeon has finally cleared me for surgery and sent in the pre-authorization to my insurance company...YAY! So, I decided to join this site today and was encouraged to tell my story...so here it is! About 6 years ago, I decided I wanted to have lap band surgery but was denied by the insurance for not being overweight enough. At that time I was approx. 230lbs. So, fast forward to 2012 I have managed to find myself extremely happily married to a wonderful man but 50lbs heavier than ever and ready to settle down and start a family. It has always been my dream to be a mom, but at my current weight, getting pregnant would not only be a risky endeavor for myself but would put a childs health in danger as well. That's when I decided, yet again, that lap band is the right route for me. I visited Dr. Ferzli in January 2012 and was given the protocol...6 months diet, cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, bloodwork, sonograms, ultrasounds, sleep studies, the works! The whole process was extremly daunting, but after nearly 9 months it is finally over!!!!! I feel excited to start my new journey and thankful that I have a surgeon who made sure there were absolutely no surprises healthwise going into surgery! For now, I will be meeting the mailman at the door every day waiting for that approval letter so I can start planning for my new healthy life!